The Manticore is my third SHIP. At 180 studs, it is significantly larger than my first two ships. I built the Manticore over an agonizingly long 10 1/2 months.

The Manticore is a heavily-armed orbital death machine with enough firepower to destroy nearly anything produced by humankind. It's main armament is one of the most powerful energy weapons ever produced, colloquially known as the Destructo Beam. The ship also carries two smaller but deadly laser turrets on the roof, a number of smaller turrets, and two fighters.

Great to see this finished. I think we were almost as eager to see it completed as you were!

I love all the recessed details - it feels like there is something in every nook and cranny. You've also successfully avoided giant box syndrome. The Manticore has lovely curves! While I was admiring the exterior photos, I said to myself, "The guys in the windows are just to give the illusion of an interior - there can't possibly be enough room for a functional interior." I'm thrilled that I was wrong. I'm not sure why the 'playset' features are so necessary, but they sure are purty.

I will say that it feels a bit small for a "death machine", but them is the breaks when making a SHIP in minifig scale. I also question the necessity of the fighters. Although the hanger bay looks awesome, they don't seem to fit the overall design. However, these are just nitpicks. This is a great moc no matter how you slice it.

I use whatever color I have in front of me for parts that are not visible. The photo above is just a replica--the actual bridge uses only grey hinges, but only because they are visible from the outside.

Hanger bays are impractical? I can see a couple of reasons why hanger bays are practical. Perhaps the SHIP needs some protection other then the giant laser turrets? Or maybe they sometimes need to use a little more finesse in whatever they are destroying.

Then again, hanger bays are just cool. Do we really need a reason?

The first theory of Ketchup: With enough Ketchup, everything tastes the same.